Lake Charles, Louisiana - A Lake Charles man died following a single-vehicle crash at the Black Bayou Bridge on Louisiana Highway 384 Sunday morning, according to Louisiana State Police.

Eric Linden, 45, of Lake Charles, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after his 2002 Chevrolet Silverado struck a crossing arm and overturned near the closed bridge. The crash occurred just before 11:00 a.m. on October 5, 2025, prompting an investigation by Louisiana State Police Troop D.

Preliminary findings indicate Linden was traveling south on Louisiana Highway 384 toward the Black Bayou Bridge when his vehicle collided with the crossing arm positioned in front of the closed bridge structure. The impact caused the Silverado to overturn, according to the police report.

Linden was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, investigators said. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to a nearby medical facility, where he later died from his injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by state police. Authorities have not released details about what led to the vehicle striking the crossing arm or whether other factors contributed to the incident.

As part of standard protocol in fatal crashes, investigators collected a toxicology sample from Linden and submitted it for laboratory analysis. Results from the toxicology testing are pending.

Louisiana Highway 384 connects several communities in southwestern Louisiana, and the Black Bayou Bridge serves as a key crossing point in the region.